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Frank Zappa - Man From Utopia Trivia Quiz

"The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business" was Frank's answer to the PMRC's infamous "tipper-sticker."

A multiple-choice quiz by JamesLake. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
JamesLake

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
157,706

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
1043

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (13/15), Guest 111 (13/15), Guest 136 (12/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Frank was influenced by numerous avant-garde and contemporary composers. Which one of the following did he often refer to besides Edgard Var�se? Hint

Phillip Glass

Eric Satie

Conlon Nancarrow

Alberto Ginastera

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Question 2 of 15

2. Who played violin on "Fifty-Fifty?" Hint

Stephane Grappelli

Jorge Pinchevsky

Jerry Goodman

Jean Luc Ponty

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Question 3 of 15

3. Who sang uncredited background vocals on "Overnight Sensations?" Hint

The Shirelles

The Ikettes

The Ronettes

The Persuasions

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Question 4 of 15

4. What was percussionist Ruth Underwood's maiden name? Hint

Romanski

Kominski

Komanoff

Romanoff

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Question 5 of 15

5. What is the numerical title of the instrumental track that Frank co-wrote and performed with Indian violin legend, Shankar? Hint

Sixty-Nine

Sixteen

Eighty-six

Thirteen

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Question 6 of 15

6. What was the title of the song that featured activities in a Jewish haberdashery? Hint

"Eddie, Are You Kidding"

"Jewish Princess"

"Pound For A Brown"

"Village Of The Sun

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Question 7 of 15

7. What type of sandwich did Frank's family eat while he was growing up? Hint

Baked Bean and Avacado

Peanut Butter and Onion

Peanut Butter and Banana

Corn and Mashed Potato

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Question 8 of 15

8. Who sang "Heavenly Bank Account" on "Zappa's Universe?" Hint

Rockapella

The Nylons

Take 6

The Manhattan Transfer

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Question 9 of 15

9. Who is the Zappa family friend who narrated "Frank Zappa: American Composer" a radio documentary produced By Steve Rowland and Gail Zappa for NPR? Hint

Mike Keneally

Beverly D' Angelo

Don Van Vliet

Joel Thorme

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Question 10 of 15

10. Who was "the Indian of the group?" Hint

Jimmy Carl Black

Motorhead Sherwood

Napolean Murphy Brock

Bunk Gardner

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Question 11 of 15

11. What was the name of the "hair" band who's lead guitar player was immortalized in "Punky's Whips?" Hint

Poison

Angel

Cinderella

Great White

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Question 12 of 15

12. What was the name of the album that first featured people talking inside of a piano? Hint

"Mothermania"

"Freak Out"

"Lumpy Gravy"

"Absolutely Free"

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Question 13 of 15

13. Who was Cal Schenkel? Hint

Zappa/Mothers early cover artist and art director

Zappa/Mothers early live sound engineer and equipment manager

Zappa/Mothers early producer and studio engineer

Zappa/Mothers early manager and A&R director

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Question 14 of 15

14. "Jazz From Hell" was recorded primarily using what instrument(s)? Hint

Percussion

Synclavier

Guitar

Mechanical (Player) Piano

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Question 15 of 15

15. What is UMRK? Hint

A rehersal studio in Van Nuys

Frank's basement studio

Barfko-Swill's corporate offices

Dweezil's touring band

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 08 2024 : Guest 24: 13/15
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 111: 13/15
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 136: 12/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Frank was influenced by numerous avant-garde and contemporary composers. Which one of the following did he often refer to besides Edgard Var�se?

Answer: Conlon Nancarrow

Nancarrow wrote "humanly-unplayable" pieces for mechanical (player) piano.

2. Who played violin on "Fifty-Fifty?"

Answer: Jean Luc Ponty

Zappa also wrote "King Kong" to feature Ponty.

3. Who sang uncredited background vocals on "Overnight Sensations?"

Answer: The Ikettes

Allegedly Ike Turner was upset with Frank for paying the Ikettes too much for the session.

4. What was percussionist Ruth Underwood's maiden name?

Answer: Komanoff

Ruth also contributed to the 1977 album by Billy Cobham called "Inner Conflicts." She played marimbas and xylophone.

5. What is the numerical title of the instrumental track that Frank co-wrote and performed with Indian violin legend, Shankar?

Answer: Thirteen

It appears on You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6. Frank introduced it as follows:

"Now this little, this little number is in thirteen, it's subdivided 5/8 and 4/4 if you wanna clap your hands.
12-123-1234 12-123-1234 12-123-1234 12-123-1234.
Pretty Good."

6. What was the title of the song that featured activities in a Jewish haberdashery?

Answer: "Eddie, Are You Kidding"

�t appeared on "Just Another Band From LA" and featured Flo and Eddie.

7. What type of sandwich did Frank's family eat while he was growing up?

Answer: Corn and Mashed Potato

This "tasty little morstle" was chronicled in "The Real Frank Zappa Book" written by Frank and Peter Occhiofrosso.

8. Who sang "Heavenly Bank Account" on "Zappa's Universe?"

Answer: Rockapella

Rockapella also did a Folger's coffee commercial a while back.

9. Who is the Zappa family friend who narrated "Frank Zappa: American Composer" a radio documentary produced By Steve Rowland and Gail Zappa for NPR?

Answer: Beverly D' Angelo

D'Angelo appeared with Chevy Chase in the "National Lampoon Vacation" series.

10. Who was "the Indian of the group?"

Answer: Jimmy Carl Black

Jimmy Carl Black was born Feb. 1st 1938 as James Inkanish Jr. in
El Paso Texas. He met Roy Estrada and Ray Collins and started the band called "The Soul Giants" which became the Mothers (of Invention). Black recorded regularly with Frank from 1966 to 1971. He always wanted to know "when are we gonna get paid?"

11. What was the name of the "hair" band who's lead guitar player was immortalized in "Punky's Whips?"

Answer: Angel

His name was Punky Meadows and he was a finalist to replace Ace Frehley in KISS in 1982.

12. What was the name of the album that first featured people talking inside of a piano?

Answer: "Lumpy Gravy"

Johnny Guerin and Victor Feldman, later of Tom Scott's LA Express, appear on "Lumpy Gravy."

13. Who was Cal Schenkel?

Answer: Zappa/Mothers early cover artist and art director

Cal's surrealistic covers included "The Grand Wazoo", "Overnight Sensation", and "Burnt Weenie Sandwich." Great stuff...

14. "Jazz From Hell" was recorded primarily using what instrument(s)?

Answer: Synclavier

Every track was realized and performed on the Synclavier except "St.Etienne" which was recorded by one of Frank's touring bands.

15. What is UMRK?

Answer: Frank's basement studio

UMRK stands for "Utility Muffin Research Kitchen."

Source: Author JamesLake

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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